MiddletownJournal.com

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have a poor work history. I have been fired or quit many times. How do I get a decent job now? I have great customer-service skills but keep losing out to less-qualified candidates. — Scott

DALE: You say you lose out to "less-qualified candidates," but it's important to remember that your work history IS a qualification.

J.T.: But you know what Scott means.

DALE: Yes, but for almost every job, there are plenty of people with experience — the choice is made on whom the hiring manager believes in and wants to work with.

J.T.: So, Scott, you need to build a new work history. Try going to temporary agencies to see if they can get you a job as a long-term temp. Also, many staffing firms offer temp-to-perm job positions, so your solid performance could result in a full-time offer.

DALE: Good idea, although I don't see that as your only option. As a volunteer at a men's center, I've encountered a stream of individuals with deplorable work histories. If they try to cover up that fact, or downplay it, they fail. However, when they admit to past failings, and ask for help, the results are astoundingly positive. You say: "I realize I don't have the ideal resume. I made dumb decisions. But I've changed, and I'm looking for a chance to prove it. I'm hoping to find someone who will give me a shot. Believe me, I'll come through for you."

J.T.: You might go further, and quantify your new loyalty: "My goal is to stay put for a minimum of two years, longer if they'll have me."

DALE: People love stories of underdogs and comebacks. Think of the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son, where one son stays home while the other wastes his inheritance on "riotous" living. When the prodigal one returns, the father announces a celebration. Understandably, the responsible son is confused and angry. The father points out, "... your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." It's a story of fatherly forgiveness; however, we must not overlook the role of the son in his return — he comes home humbled, stating that he is no longer worthy of being called his father's son, and intends to ask for a job among his father's servants. It's that Big Realization, and the humility that follows, that makes the parable.

J.T.: The upshot is this: Don't be afraid to share your story honestly and passionately. I believe the right employer will see the upside of getting a loyal, grateful employee by hiring you.

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Dear J.T. & Dale: I'm an accountant who's been absent from the work world for seven years as a stay-at-home mom. How do I get back into the accounting world, which I have missed so much? — Ann

J.T.: Just list the gap in your employment as being a "full-time mother" — that one simple line accounts for the years spent doing the hardest job of all. (OK, can you tell I'm a mommy?) Then, create a unique cover letter that shares an example of your passion for your field. Instead of the first line saying, "Dear XYZ Company, I'm applying for the job of ————————," try something like this: "It's been seven years since I've been in an accounting role, and I miss it dearly and am excited to get back to it. Here's why ..." then you insert an experience where you did something great for an employer.

DALE: That's good, but with someone who's been out of the workplace for seven years, an employer has a legitimate question about whether your knowledge is up to date. Looking at your resume, I see that you have been doing some accounting work for an entrepreneurial relative, something I'd be sure to emphasize. Further, attend professional association meetings and read the latest accounting journals, so that in interviews you'll be able to mention a recent legal decision or new regulations. That will "prove" that you aren't just ready and willing to go back to work, but are ready and willing to work to help your new employer.

Jeanine "J.T." Tanner O'Donnell is a professional development specialist and founder of the consulting firm jtodonnell.com. Dale Dauten's latest book is (Great) Employees Only: How Gifted Bosses Hire and De-Hire Their Way to Success.